Mail dispenser



Nov. 6, 1934. G.V L. scovlLLE 4 3,979,774

MAIL DISPENSER Filed Jan. 20, 1934 Patented Nov. 6, 1934 [f UNITED"STATES MAIL DISPENSER kGeorge L, Scoville, Hamilton, Ohio, assignor toFred Greschel,

Application January 20,

Lakeland, Fla.

1934, Serial No. 707,581

4 claims. (el. 12s- 32) This invention relates to a container designedprimarily for use by mail carriers operating in rural districts, theprimary object of the invention being to provide a dispenser which willsecure the letters or contents thereof against displacement, and at thesame time will support the letters and contents of the dispenser in sucha way that the names and addresses thereof may be readily determined,and successive contents removed without disturbing or removing theremaining mail from the dispenser.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which will securely attend the mail held therein, the clamp-'15 ing means being automatic in its operation to the end that theperson using the device is relieved of the responsibility of operatingthe letter clamping means.

A still further object of the invention is the j provision of acontainer which is stamped from sheet metal material, thereby providinga container which will be strong and durable but especially light inweight, to the end that the container may be easily handled andtransported 25 from place to place.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what isclaimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a container constructed in accordance withthe invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the container, taken on line 3--3 ofFigure 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the container comprises a box-likebody portion indicated generally by the reference character 5, the bodyportion being constructed preferably of sheet metal material andprovided with one vertical side wall 6, and a rear end wall '7, thefront end of the box being preferably left open, so that the personusing the container will have ready 5U access to the contained contentsthereof.

Stamped from the bottom of the box-like body portion 5, are ribs orlouvers 8, the ribs being disposed in parallel relation with respect toeach other and arranged in pairs at opposite sides of a line drawnlongitudinally through the center of the body portion. As clearly shownby Figure 3 of the drawing, these ribs 8 are inclined inwardly towardsthe center of the body portion, and provide supports for the followerwhich is indicated by the reference character 9.

This follower 9 comprises a length of sheet metal material havingdownwardly extended flanges 10 and 13, the ends of the anges beingdovetailed to fit between the adjacent inner ribs 8, which ribs providea guide for the follower and insure the follower operating in a trueplane, longitudinally of the body portion.

nwardly inclined fingers 11 form a part of the follower 9, which fingersare stamped from the main portion of the follower, the fingers beingltwisted at points near their lower ends, strength- 'ening the fingers,so that they will not bend under the action of the spring 12, forming apart of the device, and to be hereinafter more fully described. A flange13 depends from the follower 9 and is 75, formed with a cut out portion,through which the forward end of the coiled spring l2 extends, theforward extremity of the coiled spring being secured to the flange 10,as clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawing. 80

The rear end of the spring 12 is secured to the end wall 7 of thecontainer, at 14, with the result that the spring, which is of thecontractile type, will act to normally urge the follower towards the endwall of the container, securing the letters or articles held within thedispenser between the fingers 11 and inclined wall 15, which forms apart of the end wall 7.

At the forward end of the container is a stop 16 that extends upwardlyfrom the bottom of the 90 container and lies in the path of travel ofthe follower, when the follower is moved towards the front end of thecontainer, thereby insuring against the follower being pulled too farfrom the container when the follower is being moved to permit lettersand mailing matter to be placed within the container.

It might be further stated that a receptacle such as indicated at 17 maybe provided on the follower, for receiving stamps or change, for theconvenience of the carrier.

In the use of the device, letters or similar mail matter may be arrangedwithin the container, between the fingers 11 and rear wall 15 and sidewall 6 thereof, the addresses of the mail matter being disposed inconsecutive order towards the front of the container.

The ngers 11, pressing against the mail matter, will act to clamp themail matter in such a iway as to prevent displacement thereof, but atthe same time permit the fingers of the operator to be inserted betweenthe mail matter to remove a particular letter or piece of mail and allowvisibility of address.

The mail matter is also supported at such an angle that when the fingersof the operator are inserted to remove or spread the mail, the name andaddress on the contents of the dispenser may be readily viewed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A container of the class described, comprising a body portion, ribsrising from the bottom of the body portion, a follower resting on theribs, a spring connected with the follower normally urging the followertowards one end of the body portion, and inclined ngers extendingupwardly from the follower for engaging articles held in the container.4

2. A container of the class described, comprising a body portion havingan open side and end, a follower operating in the body portion, lingersrising from the follower for engaging the articles held in the containerand means for urging the follower towards one end of the body portion.

3. A container of the class described, comprising a metallicbodyportion, a plurality of ribs stamped from the bottom of the bodyportion and extending upwardly from the bottom of the body portion, saidribs constituting a support for articles positioned in the container, afollower resting on the ribs, a contractile spring secured to thefollower and having one end thereof secured to one end of the containerand spaced fingers rising from the follower for engaging the articlesheld in the container.

4;. A container of the class described, comprising a body portion, afollower within the body portion, said follower comprising a pluralityof spaced upwardly extended fingers, said lingers adapted to engage apack of letters positioned in the body portion, clamping the letters,said follower operating in a horizontal plane and movable longitudinallyof the body portion, and said follower being of a construction wherebythe address on the letter engaged by the follower, will be visible whilethe letters are held clamped in the body portion.

GEORGE L. SCOVILLE.

